Social Hierarchy. Ancient Egyptian society was highly stratified. There were six major divisions in society throughout roughly three thousand years of history. These divisions are reflected in honorary titles and occupational titles people used to describe themselves in their tombs. The groups included the royal family and nobles, the bureaucracy, the military, the priesthood, artisans, and agricultural workers. As early as the Predynastic Period (circa 3100-3000 B.C.E.) some graves contained more and better quality goods than others, suggesting that social stratification began early. The trend toward specialization and stratification accelerated as society became more complex in the historical periods.

Top to Bottom. Stratification began with the gods at the top of society. The king was the only point of intersection between gods and men. Beneath the king were the officials of all types, sometimes known in the Egyptian language as the pat, and the vast majority of...